COLUMNIST

Are our children as health conscious as the Japanese?

Vanraj Varu recently emailed to this writer a message about the Japanese way of life. Varu was a Pe-degree student in Ferguson College in Poona, in the sixtees. He was known for his moral disposition and composed demeanour.
Some of the notable features of Varu’s email. Full Story

This is how to die responsibly

We have seen in many cases when someone dies, relatives would fight over the assets and properties left behind by the deceased. A good example is Dar es Salaam where land cases are flooding everyday in districts land tribunals. When in court, these children and close relatives would. Full Story

Much is heard in Tanzania about the limited availability of jobs for university graduates, and of their lack of practical skills and knowledge to bring to the workplace. While our problems may be more acute than in more developed countries, this challenge is in fact universal.

For most countries, developed and less developed, the sources of education revenue invariably involve a combination of public and private financing sources. There are various sources of education revenue including fiscal sources; user charges including various forms of cost recovery and cost sharing sources; student loans which constitute as a revolving fund which generates income out of which loans are offered to students; and various forms of community contributions (Galabawa, 2007).

Last Saturday The Sikh Temple of Dar es Salaam, in trying to establish a small catchment area around Gerezani in conjunction with Help Organisation carried out a medico-dental camp in which 277 patients after undergoing registration had free checkups.

On March 8, 2015, women worldwide celebrated an International Women’s Day (IWD). ‘Make It Happen’ is the 2015 theme for the internationalwomensday.com global hub, encouraging effective action for advancing and recognising women.

Tanzania is endowed with talented brothers and sisters who are currently working at international level in various academic and research international institutions. Our Correspondent GERALD KITABU talked to DR TUYENI MWAMPAMBA, a researcher at the Centre for Ecosystems Research, Mexico.

As the tenure for the country topmost boss at State House narrows down to a few months, the race for the prestigious seat gain more momentum.
Contestants increase by the day while some of the ambitious politicians have opted to keep their cards close to their chests, obviously for strategic reasons.

There is probably a sense of euphoria amongst Yanga fans and in stark contrast, a feeling of deflation amongst Azam FC supporters at the moment.
This is because Yanga have advanced to the First Round of the Confederations Cup while the 'ice cream makers' failed to scale the first hurdle in the CAF Champions League last weekend.

Despite the clear commitment of governments and international agencies to the education sector, efficient and equitable access to education is still proving to be elusive for many people around the world.

The lady patient(P) had sunken cheeks. To the Dental Surgeon (DS) it was clear that she did not have enough teeth to give her a facial profile. She was direct and to the point as she gave her dental history to the DS, “I was born in Zanzibar in 1939.

Corruption continues to feature prominently in the in Tanzania, and to be a “popular” subject as we go through the early months of 2015.
This is an unfortunate development, much as what is happening is not a surprise as such.

Yesterday, the Tanzania Paralympic Committee (TPC) General Elections took place with today marking the first day in office for the incoming leadership.
It has to be emphasized though the task facing the new administration is a daunting and arduous one: that of significantly improving the largely stagnant state of paralympic sports in the country.

‘Masculinity’ entails a set of expectations that often includes dominance, aggressiveness, rationality, physicality, and strength. ‘Femininity’ entails a set of expectations that often includes submissiveness, passivity, intuition, emotionality and weakness.

Juvenile delinquency and riots are one of the common themes in postcolonial Tanzanian literature that is set in the 1970s, 1980s, into the 1990s.
Juvenile delinquency and riots threaten the quality of life of urban dwellers in Dar-es- Salaam; during the 1990s, the annual crime increase in Dar-es- Salaam by 8.

The other day local contractors held an annual meeting, organized by their umbrella association, and one of the issues raised is too important to be left to professionals in the construction sector but ought to be treated as a matter of public concern - there are substantial reasons to justify society intervention.

Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT) held its 8th graduation ceremony over the weekend. During the graduation ceremony also attended by the Minister for Communications, Science and Technology, a total of 632 graduates were conferred certificates, diploma and degrees in different fields of science and technology.

As expected, 2015 began with a bang. For, in a year in which two national polls are on the country’s agenda, we simply can’t have a business as usual scenario.
Both the referendum on the country’s new constitution and the October general election meant to give us new teams of councillors, parliamentarians and new a Head of State are bound to have some side shows and all sorts of happenings.

“My husband tells me every time when we are sleeping at night that my mouth smells awfully. I have repeatedly gone before the mirror while brushing my teeth to see if I have anything wrong in my mouth.

The Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT) in Tanzania through its Secondary Education Development Programme (SEDP II) tasked a Consultant to undertake a Comprehensive Study for Strengthened Education Institutions namely Agency for Development of Education Management (ADEM), National Examination Council of Tanzania (NECTA), Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE) and Education Materials Accreditation Committee (EMAC).

It seems one of our government’s New Year resolutions is to close one of the most shameful chapters in the country’s history, once and for all! The chapter is none other than the killing and mutilating citizens already disadvantaged by the albinism condition.

Currently youth are facing multiple challenges including lack of employment and entrepreneurship skills, lack on employable soft skills, lack of skills in decision making, leadership and many more, which render it difficult for them to cope with fast changing world.

The government of Tanzania established the Tanzania youth fund aimed at empowering Tanzanian youth economically. On 4th February 2013, Tanzania’s National Parliament adopted a resolution to start this new government programme.

Let us revisit one of the major messages delivered by religious and political leaders during Christmas season, which is none other than calls on Tanzanians to fight corruption and avoid electing leaders who are graft prone.

The Natural Resource Committee for Nahoro and Mtungunyu villages have urged the government to hunt all illegal loggers and timber harvesters who are abducting, beating and injuring the villages’ patrol team into the Liwale’s biggest Angai forest ecosystem.

Sometimes in March, 2011, it was reported in one local newspaper in Tanzania that Humphrey Moshi, an Economics Professor at the University of Dar es Salaam, said that “the Government's economic assessment data are not pragmatic and are not informed through research and scientific evidence.

I am tempted to call our brand new year a “Voting” one, simply because major national exercises related to going to polling centers to determine the country’s destiny, in one way or another, are in the calendar of 2015.

Following the role Journalists play in the community, this year, Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDs-Coalition) organised and conducted several security management training for Journalists after realising that some Journalists as human rights defenders have become victims of their own profession.

As the clock ticks towards the end of 2014, one of the popular activities during this season is normally to take stock of what has happened during the last 12 months - that is at individual, family, community and even national level.

With the end of the year now clearly in sight, this is a fitting time to reflect on yet another momentous twelve months for sports in the country.
In local football, the biggest story of the year certainly had to be Azam’s triumphant march to their first-ever league crown at the expense of those two colossuses of the game: Yanga and Simba.

In the past, the state HIV/Aids in the Maasai pastoral communities was very low and this was mainly due to their nature of their life and activities. However, with the advent of globalisation, their culture has been interacted with foreign people.

With the Nani Mtani Jembe contest now in the past the attention of enthusiastic football fans has rapidly turned to the much awaited kick-off of the Mainland Premier League’s Second Round which is looming large on the horizon.

This Sunday is a special day in the country’s calendar, as Tanzanians are expected to go for local Government elections to get their grassroots leaders.
Two weeks ago there were no signs of excitement or interest in this national exercise, thus tempting political analysts to raise some intriguing questions.

One of local serious newspapers reserves a page weekly for readers to debate one of the burning issues of the day, so long as such themes have a social impact.
The recent topic to comment on was the move by development partners to withhold some funds meant for budget support, as a way of putting the government to task for what is considered financial mismanagement.

Pawaga division is one of six divisions in Iringa District Council (IDC) in Iringa Region. In recent years, the division which has a total area of 684.3 square kilometre with 12 villages and 60 harmlets has been marred by several conflicts.

What happened last week during the much anticipated symposium organized by Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation in Dar es Salaam is now part of history.
But what kind of history? This is the question consuming the mental energy of civilized citizens wherever they are, irrespective of their status in society.

Recent studies in Tanzania show that a large percentage of adolescents have had experiences with drugs or substances like tobacco and alcohol at a young age. At the same time they lack basic knowledge about the effects and dangers of its consumption.

At the start of this month, it was reported in the media including this newspaper that the government has reversed the policy of producing and publishing text books for education retaking over the activities from private firms over claims that the latter have failed to produce quality materials.

‘Citizens Engaging on Government Oversight in Natural Resources Management’ (CEGO-NRM) is implemented under United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Tanzania’s Democracy, Human Rights and Governance (DRG), Supporting Accountability to Tanzania Citizens (SATC) Programme.

The other day, the Junior Minister for lands, housing and human settlements and development George Simbachawene commented about the long awaited national policy on housing and human settlement in a manner typical of most politicians-cum-bureaucrats when he said it was going through final touches and “is expected to be out soon”.

In recent days killings have become a normal thing in Tanzania. Almost every passing day we read and listen to the media fatefully killing of innocent persons. Innocent persons are being killed by a syndicate of gangsters in the mid-day.

It is customary for Tanzanians and people all over the world to commemorate Nyerere Day, on 14th October, which has become a public holiday. The aim of this commemoration is to get time to reflect and celebrate the life of the First President of Tanzania, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, which helped to shape the world’s social and geo-politics.

Ebola epidemic is lethal and much frightening to the extent that many would prefer to wish it away and pretend it can’t catch up with us - a similar or rather common attitude many human beings tend to assume when a thought of death comes to their minds.

Mid last month, during inauguration of the School Inspection week celebrations, the Minister for Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT), Dr Shukuru Kawambwa, encouraged school inspectors to utilise their opportunity to ensure that quality of education in the country is enhanced.

There are hints that the new constitution endorsed by the controversial Constituent Assembly (CA) early this month and presented to the President of United Republic of Tanzania for consideration on what to do next may go through the final crucial procedure fast, in an effort to ensure we have a new mother law of the land before the current head of state leaves state house.

As the fascinating Mainland Premier League goes on a short break, excitement is continuing to build amongst committed football fans and neutrals alike over the potentially titanic battle between those two familiar and old foes Simba and Yanga on October 18th, next weekend at the stately National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Agriculture plays a key role in nutrition and health. However, experience shows that investing in agricultural production and growth has not necessarily translated into improved nutrition of especially women and children.

Learning to read for preschool children is the basic way of enabling them to achieve and explore more reading skills. Research findings show that children develop skills related to vocabulary, concepts of print, phonemic awareness, phonological awareness, knowledge of letters, and comprehending stories before they enter school.

Obviously, stakeholders in the education sector are very much concerned about developments taking place in it and are not hiding their feelings.
This is proved by on and off debates on various issues and aspects related to education, which have surfaced in recent years and continue today.

Shuruli Shomate (S) was a rightist, mentally attuned to eating food on the right side of her mouth. The Dental Surgeon (DS) had told her to develop the habit of chasing the morsel of food on both sides of the mouth.

Yesterday September 23, 2014 the UN Climate Summit which was held in New York, USA. The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has called all leaders from government, finance, business and civil society to galvanise and catalyse climate action towards the anticipated global climate agreement in 2015.

The question as to whether the country needs a new constitution to guide it for the coming several post-independence decades is somehow resolved, as only a few people who happen to be out of touch with the prevailing reality can say we don’t need one.

The priest had oratorical skills. He could, with historical facts and deft use of words, capture the attention of the congregation. Those who kept sitting cross-legged in the temple with rapt attention did not even realise that the posture they had assumed in the hour of the discourse had not caused them even an iota of stress.

Tanzanian youth living in South Africa are currently becoming aggressive, capturing and utilising every opportunity they get in the African economic giant nation. Many youth living there, are increasingly investing in different economic sectors.

Helloh, greetings for the week, and have you been asked for a bribe in the last one?
According to findings here by ‘Twaweza’, an independant research initiative, “three out of five people have been asked for a bribe by police”.

The first three winners of TANAPA Media Awards in 2013 are currently visiting different tourism attractions in South Africa. A ten-day study tour is part of the awards offered by the Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) in June this year.

At the start of this month, it was reported in the media including this newspaper that the government has reversed the policy of producing and publishing text books for education retaking over the activities from private firms over claims that the latter have failed to produce quality materials.

As soon as Manuqui Sangarth (M) seated herself in the waiting lounge of the Dental Clinic she inserted her right index finger into the mouth as if to try and locate ‘something’ that had lodged between her teeth.

Ihombwe village dispensary located some 60-kilometers from Kilosa District in Morogoro Region is facing an acute shortage of drugs, equipment and other hospital facilities to smoothly run the dispensary’s health activities and services.

As we edge closer to the start of the new Mainland Premier League season, the excitement amongst the top flight’s legions of fans continues to tantalizingly mount.
Indeed, the almost feverish anticipation has been further fueled by significant developments taking place at the country’s two most aristocratic and successful clubs, Simba and Yanga.

Among happenings which have captured my attention and probably the attention of many other Tanzanians in the past few days is the authoritative announcement that the infamous ghost workers in our public administrative structure are seriously under siege and this time round may be crushed once and for all.

Some children born with disability in rural areas still face stigmatisation from their own parents. Our Correspondent GERALD KITABU caught up with STELLA MAKUBI (26), a mother and resident of Msimba Mikumi village in Kilosa District, Morogoro Region, who, after giving birth to a child with disability, she was ditched by her husband.

With the nation’s attention focused on the ongoing Constituent Assembly which is chasing a proverbial wild goose in form of a new constitution, some of the important developments taking place in the country are not getting the public attention they deserve.

The treasured Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Associations (FEASSSA) Games started yesterday in Dar es Salaam with avid sports fans earnestly looking forward to spotting the prodigiously gifted youngsters who in the years to come will dominate our regional sporting arena and hopefully, even other rarefied sporting landscapes further afield as well.

Eight villages in Kilosa District, Morogoro Region are currently benefiting from sustainable charcoal production. The villagers have done much with the programme, including constructing classrooms, houses for doctors and teachers, and developing markets.

It is an incontrovertible fact that science and technology have become intricately woven into the fabric of daily life for the denizens of this planet in the 21st Century.
Indeed, since the emergence of the now familiar, world-shrinking technology known as the Internet, eager and bright minds have blazed a trail of innovation to hit upon ‘The Next Big Thing’ in Information Communication Technology (ICT) which has thus prompted the creation of wildly popular Internet spin-offs such as social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to name but a few.

The word out of Washington is Nouri al-Maliki must go. A new prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, will unify Iraq with American help.
We’ve seen this movie before an attempt at a quick fix of Iraq’s problems.

The patient had been anaemic for quite a while. She had been prescribed Fefol tablets. Fefol consists of 150mg of ferrous sulphate and 0.5mg of folic acid. She was instructed to have two tablets for one month.

The die is cast. Constitutional Assembly MPs questioning the manner by which the constitution writing process has been proceeding have finally maintained their stand not to go back to house they left in protest a few months back in Dodoma.

In the past few months we have heard increasing incidences of social conflicts, peace and security instability, which has caused a number of people to free their households, while hundreds of them have died, injured as well as lost their properties.

It seems there is realization that vocational education has not been getting the attention it deserves in our national planning process, and now some initiatives are being conceived to change the situation.

The recently announced Form Six results for the year 2013 which show the pass rate of over 95% and look too good to be accepted at face value may be a bit controversial.
But to some observers they are an indicator that the country’s performance in the education sector can improve fast if measures like better planning and general management as well as investing more resources in it are undertaken seriously.

Peter Siwotri, a truck – driver, plying household wares between Dar and Iringa for seventeen years had finally decided to call it a day. He had arrived in the clinic to consult the Dental Surgeon(DS) for the darkish black hue on two of his incisors.

On Friday mid morning I received a call from a friend hosting a live talk show at Morning Star FM (105.3) here in Dar es Salaam seeking my opinion on recently announced 2014 Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (ACSE) results.

As the State House tenure days of the current President are running out fast, the question of who will replace him is also preoccupying many citizens, with members of the political elite increasing the tempo of this talk through what they say and do.

Disaster management has become a major problem in the country. The government has built a culture of waiting until events occur and then try to reddress the situation. Little is done to mobilize resources and put in place preventative mechanisms.

Parliament sessions are over and the spotlight is back to the Constituent Assembly (CA). In fact discussion on the fate of the temporary legislative organ expected to midwife the important legal document will further gain momentum when the dust in Brazil soccer fields settles, as the event has a potential to eclipse all sorts of happenings, no matter how important they may be to national development.

With the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland due to begin soon, Tanzanians are tentatively hoping that the serious preparations undertaken by the Tanzania Olympic Committee (TOC) will pay heavy dividends in terms of medals at the august Games.

At a meeting held in Tanga last week to address some of the problems facing elders in society, one of the resource persons, a social worker for that matter, noted with concern that some of the senior citizens living in rural areas are victims of alcohol abuse - that is have turned into habitual drinkers, thus creating unnecessary problems in their twilight days.

It is generally agreed that the ongoing Football World Cup in Brazil has thus far served up enchanting football of the vintage variety.
Now at the business end of the competition, this year’s World Cup has featured the wondrous skills of attacking virtuosos such as the darling of Brazilian football, Neymar, the pint-sized, feather-footed Argentinean genius Lionel Messi and the emerging as well as breathtakingly brilliant Colombian midfield general James Rodriguez.

Unit Title is a type of property ownership where home owners own a defined part of a building such as an apartment, generally known as a unit. They also have shared ownership, as tenants in common, of common areas such as lifts, lobbies or driveways.

In her eighties, yet full of inquisitiveness followed by amnesia since she had already asked the same question thrice already, she intoned again, “Doctor, will the two crowns together not come out like the one which did earlier on two occasions?”
The query of the lady in horn-rimmed thick glasses set into motion the inter-play of her five previous visits with the Dental Surgeon (DS).

(Pearson) New technologies and economic pressures to remain globally competitive are driving efforts to make learning more effective, accessible, and personalized. Innovations in assessment technology are improving usability, speeding delivery, and making it easier to merge information into data systems.

It would, indeed, have been professionally strange if the Dar es Salaam based mainstream dailies had missed the story of more than 10,000 job seekers turning up to the national stadium for a written interview meant to recruit 70 of them for jobs in one of the government departments.